L'Innovation Department Store Fire
Encyclopedia
The L'Innovation Department Store fire took place on May 22, 1967 in Brussels, Belgium, and killed 322 people, many of them women and children. The tragedy
was a source of Cold War
controversy since it came during a period that included anti-American protests from communist supporters.
An exhibit featuring American merchandise that began on May 5 and included blue jeans
, barbecue
equipment and paper dolls had created outrage among a pro-China
group called "Action for the Peace and Independence of Peoples." In the days leading up to the fire, picketing outside the store had taken place, while pamphlet
s promising greater conflict also circulated.
The blaze began in the five-story structure, built in 1897, at approximately 1:30 p.m. with more than 1,000 people in the store. The store was built with an atrium in the center open to all floors and topped with a skylight, an architecture that behaved like a chimney giving a steady air draft to the store's wooden floors and walls. Cries of, "Fire!" incited panic
, with virtually the entire store engulfed in just 10 minutes. No sprinkler system or other active fire fighting system were present. Many shoppers rushed to windows, since the main stairway was enveloped in thick black smoke
, while some jumped to their deaths before fire ladders arrived. Still others went to the roof and escaped via nearby buildings. Some employees, having become used to the exploding fireworks
that protestors had set off, ignored pleas to leave the building until it was too late.
The origin of the fire was a source of confusion, with store management first stating that the inferno began in the first-floor children's wear department. That was a contradiction of witnesses who had seen exploding butane canisters in the third floor camping department, as well as fourth floor problems in the kitchen of the store's restaurant. Further controversy came about when one witness claimed to have heard one person shout after the fire began, "I'm giving my life for Vietnam
!"
On May 30, a funeral service for the victims, attended by Belgium
's King Baudouin I and Queen Fabiola, was held at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart
. Other towns also held celebrated funeral masses. The fire marked the worst catastrophe worldwide since the 1961 Niteroi circus fire
in Brazil
, and was Belgium's greatest disaster since the August 1956 coal mine tragedy at the Bois du Cazier colliery in Marcinelle
.
Tragedy (event)
A tragedy is an event in which one or more losses, usually of human life, occurs that is viewed as mournful. Such an event is said to be tragic....
was a source of Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
controversy since it came during a period that included anti-American protests from communist supporters.
An exhibit featuring American merchandise that began on May 5 and included blue jeans
Blue Jeans
"Blue Jeans" is a sentimental popular song written by Harry D. Kerr and Lou Traveller in 1920. In the song, the singer is reminiscing about a long-ago young love that happened somewhere in the "hills of the old Cumberland." The chorus echoes the singer's longing:* The Parlor Songs Collection.* by...
, barbecue
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
equipment and paper dolls had created outrage among a pro-China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
group called "Action for the Peace and Independence of Peoples." In the days leading up to the fire, picketing outside the store had taken place, while pamphlet
Pamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound booklet . It may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths , or it may consist of a few pages that are folded in half and saddle stapled at the crease to make a simple book...
s promising greater conflict also circulated.
The blaze began in the five-story structure, built in 1897, at approximately 1:30 p.m. with more than 1,000 people in the store. The store was built with an atrium in the center open to all floors and topped with a skylight, an architecture that behaved like a chimney giving a steady air draft to the store's wooden floors and walls. Cries of, "Fire!" incited panic
Panic
Panic is a sudden sensation of fear which is so strong as to dominate or prevent reason and logical thinking, replacing it with overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frantic agitation consistent with an animalistic fight-or-flight reaction...
, with virtually the entire store engulfed in just 10 minutes. No sprinkler system or other active fire fighting system were present. Many shoppers rushed to windows, since the main stairway was enveloped in thick black smoke
Smoke
Smoke is a collection of airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass. It is commonly an unwanted by-product of fires , but may also be used for pest...
, while some jumped to their deaths before fire ladders arrived. Still others went to the roof and escaped via nearby buildings. Some employees, having become used to the exploding fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
that protestors had set off, ignored pleas to leave the building until it was too late.
The origin of the fire was a source of confusion, with store management first stating that the inferno began in the first-floor children's wear department. That was a contradiction of witnesses who had seen exploding butane canisters in the third floor camping department, as well as fourth floor problems in the kitchen of the store's restaurant. Further controversy came about when one witness claimed to have heard one person shout after the fire began, "I'm giving my life for Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
!"
On May 30, a funeral service for the victims, attended by Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
's King Baudouin I and Queen Fabiola, was held at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Belgium
The National Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic Minor Basilica and parish church in Brussels. The church was dedicated to the Sacred Heart, inspired by the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur in Paris. Symbolically King Leopold II laid the first stone of the basilica in 1905 during the...
. Other towns also held celebrated funeral masses. The fire marked the worst catastrophe worldwide since the 1961 Niteroi circus fire
Niterói circus fire
The Niterói circus fire was a fire disaster which occurred on December 17, 1961 in the city of Niterói, Brazil. A fire in the tent housing a sold-out performance by the Gran Circus Norte-Americano caused more than 500 deaths ; it was later proven to be caused by arson...
in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and was Belgium's greatest disaster since the August 1956 coal mine tragedy at the Bois du Cazier colliery in Marcinelle
Marcinelle
Marcinelle is a Walloon town in the Belgian province of Hainaut, it is currently a municipality within the Charleroi borders. Until 1977, the town was a municipality of its own....
.